Donna's Blog

With banks tightening their grip on loans, getting one is requiring more work and vigilance on the borrower's part. Even people with excellent credit are jumping through hoops to verify everything and avoiding nicks that could give the appearance of being a risky borrower. There are a few strategies to employ that could improve the chances of not only getting a loan but getting a better rate.

Beat the heat: Tips for keeping your family safe and healthy this summer

The smell of the barbecue grill, the sounds of children playing and the feel of warm sun on the skin are all signs of summer. With increased outdoor activities, there also comes a list of precautions you should take to keep your family safe and healthy.
'We know women are usually the caretakers of the family,' says Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, a registered nurse and executive director of HealthyWomen. 'Summer brings lots of great opportunities for family fun, but also requires some special planning to keep kids and adults safe and healthy in the sun and heat.'

When it comes to home improvement, small projects pay off

Current economic conditions have forced many families to re-evaluate their spending habits and cut back in certain areas that are no longer deemed necessities. Dining out, family vacations and the purchase of that new TV are all being postponed until the economy makes it out of the red - but some things, like home improvement projects, can't be pushed off quite as easily.

Easy ideas for elegant outdoor summer entertaining

To really impress your guests this summer, give your outdoor soirees a little extra elegance that goes beyond the usual grill-out. The good news is that it's easier than you'd imagine to create an ambiance that is welcoming and sophisticated.

One of the keys to throwing an upscale backyard get together is to plan in advance. Once you have an idea of what you'd like to do, it's time to start letting people know. And we all know how busy summer schedules are, so informing your guests as much as a few weeks ahead of time is a courtesy they'll appreciate.

Bookmark your favorite road

Planes and trains may have their place in our society, but for the dedicated traveler there's still nothing like getting in your car and taking a trip along America's highways.

Half the fun of road trips, in the minds of many, is getting home and telling friends and family about the adventure - and the roads they traveled.

Junior Lien Holders May Be Key To HAFA Success

by Bob Hunt
It is much too early to gauge the success of HAFA, the administration's Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives program. HAFA guidelines and standard forms were first released in November of 2009. The effective date was April 5, 2010, although participating lenders were free to adopt the program ahead of that date. The November guidelines were revised on March 26, 2010. (You know something is going on if guidelines need to be revised even before the program becomes effective.)

When you get your Tax Bill, look at the exemptions!

it's tax bill time. In Will county, property tax bills were mailed out the beginning of May. The bill is actually for last year's taxes and is paid this year, a fact that might be a little confusing.

Dont ignore it. By law, half of the money must be paid by June 2, and the other half must be paid by Sept. 2.

With all that in mind, Will County Assessor Rhonda Novak wants everyone to know that there are some exemptions, meaning situations that actually can lower a property tax bill. And she wants everyone who is eligible for a tax break to get one.

Make a Tack-Free Message Board and here's how

Display cards and photos without poking holes in them. The bulletin board pictured here requires a 32-by-24-inch piece of plywood, seven 24-inch lengths of 2/3-inch-wide screen molding, a ruler, pencil, hammer, nails, paint, and wood glue. Paint plywood and molding strips contrasting colors. Let dry; use glue and nails to fasten two strips to top and bottom edges of plywood. Before attaching remaining strips, measure and mark spacing, 1/8 inch less than height of item: 1 7/8 inches for business cards, 5 7/8 inches for standard 4-by-6-inch photos. To display, bow card a little to slip it between strips.

Source: http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/tack-free-message-board

Outdoor trips for the whole family to love

As your children grow older, it can be difficult finding fun family vacations for everyone to enjoy together. Here are some tips to get out and have a pleasurable family vacation: